- A U.S. agent can file an O-1 petition when the beneficiary will work for multiple employers or on a series of projects, but this does not replace the requirement to show a valid petitioner with a right-to-control relationship.
- Agents may act as petitioners only if they either serve as the actual employer with authority to direct and supervise the work, or act as representatives for one or more employers who each retain the right to control their portion of the work.
- A compliant agent petition must include contracts or deal memos demonstrating who controls the work, evidence of the agent’s authority, and an itinerary if the beneficiary will work in more than one location.
Introduction
Every O-1 petition requires a qualifying U.S. petitioner. Under the regulations, the petitioner must be a U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer acting through a U.S. agent. When there is not a single direct U.S. employer, a U.S. agent can file the petition, but this does not eliminate the need to show a legally sufficient right-to-control arrangement.
A U.S. agent can organize and file a petition that covers multiple employers or a series of projects. This structure is common for founders, consultants, creatives, and others whose work spans multiple engagements.
However, the petition must still show either (1) the agent’s own authority to control the work, or (2) the authority of the employers represented by the agent.
Below is an overview of what O-1 agents do, how they must be structured, and when they are appropriate.
What is an O-1 Agent?
An O-1 agent is a U.S. person or entity that signs and files the petition as the petitioner. Under the regulations, an agent may act as:
- The actual employer with the right to control the beneficiary’s work
- A representative of both the employers and the beneficiary
- An entity authorized by multiple employers to file the petition on their behalf
O-1 petitions cannot be self-filed by the beneficiary. Even when an agent is used, the petition must still show that the agent or the represented employers can supervise, direct, or otherwise exercise control over the beneficiary’s work.
Is an O-1 Agent Always Required?
No. Two scenarios are recognized:
Single U.S. employer - If you have one U.S. employer willing to employ you and file Form I-129, no agent is needed. A standard employer–employee petition is sufficient.
Multiple employers or project-based work - If you will work for several employers or on short-term projects, an agent can file one consolidated petition. In this situation, the petition must show either the agent’s authority as employer or the underlying employers’ authority to control their respective engagements.
This structure is often used for founders, consultants, artists, and other professionals whose work is not tied to one employer. Importantly, this does not permit pure self-employment. Entrepreneurs may use an agent, but only if the petition documents an oversight or control mechanism, such as board authority over the founder’s work.
What Does a U.S. Agent Do?
Depending on the structure, a U.S. agent may:
- Act as the actual employer of the beneficiary
- Represent multiple U.S. employers who will each supervise and control their portion of the work
- Submit a petition covering multiple engagements through contracts and an itinerary
The agent must serve as a legally recognized petitioner. Simply acting as a “middleman” is not sufficient; the petition must document the right-to-control arrangement.
What’s Needed for an O-1 Agent Petition?
When an agent files the petition, USCIS requires evidence demonstrating both the validity of the agent relationship and compliance with the right-to-control requirement. Key materials include:
Contracts or deal memos - These must show the terms of each engagement and clearly identify who has authority to direct and supervise the beneficiary’s work. If there is no written contract, a summary of the oral agreement may be provided.
Evidence of agent authority - The petition must show that the agent is authorized to act for the employer(s) and, where applicable, is in business as an agent.
Right-to-control structure -The petition must establish either (1) the agent’s authority to control the work, or (2) the employer’s authority to control the work, with the agent filing on the employer’s behalf.
Itinerary -If the work will occur in multiple locations or across several projects, the petition must include an itinerary with dates, locations, and a brief description of each engagement.
Why Use an O-1 Agent?
Agents are useful for individuals who work across multiple engagements, such as founders, consultants, artists, designers, and performers. A single agent petition can consolidate multiple employers, simplify the filing process, and align the petition with how the individual actually works. But the right-to-control structure must be carefully documented to avoid RFEs or denials.
How to choose the right Immigration attorney for the O-1 visa?
Agent-filed O-1 petitions require detailed contracts, control documentation, and a well-structured itinerary. An experienced O-1 attorney will ensure the petitioner structure is legally sound, that control is clearly documented, and that the evidence meets the regulatory standards.
At Alma, we’ve built a modern immigration platform and team to make this process transparent and streamlined for you. We provide end-to-end guidance for every O-1 visa petition.
We simplify the O-1 visa process for individuals, focusing on 3 core pillars:
- Speed: 2-week turnaround time in document preparation
- Excellence: 99%+ approval rate so far
- Care: Full transparency with our platform and direct attorney access
Ready to start your immigration journey? Get started here!
Frequently Asked Questions
Pegah Karimabakhsh Asli is an Associate Attorney at Alma, where she advises startups, founders, and enterprise clients on a wide range of employment-based immigration matters. She has extensive experience preparing and filing petitions across key categories, including TN, H-1B, L-1, O-1, EB-1, NIW, and Adjustment of Status (AOS), and provides strategic counsel to clients navigating complex immigration pathways.
Before joining Alma, Pegah worked at Fragomen in Silicon Valley, where she supported multinational corporations and high-growth companies with business immigration strategy and case management.
Jihan (Jina Hassan) Merlin is an Immigration Attorney and Head of Immigration Strategy at Alma, where she leads efforts to build smarter, faster, and more human immigration solutions. With over a decade of experience advising individuals, startups, and Fortune 100 companies, she combines legal expertise with technology to design scalable immigration programs. A graduate of Boston College Law School, Jihan is passionate about innovation in process and improving every stage of the immigration journey.
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